JMMB Group recently used its Goal Setter Live series to showcase 10 of its employees who operate small businesses.
Held via the company’s social media pages, the small business expo showcased a range of products to a diverse audience of Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora.
The financial conglomerate kicked off the JMMB Goal Getter Live series of webinars earlier this year to give hope, lend expertise and share solutions that will assist clients and the wider public navigate the COVID-19 crisis.
“Small businesses have a special place in our hearts as an organisation born out of similar circumstances; as such, we are happy to support our team members in a holistic way,” said, Kerry-Ann Stimpson, group chief marketing officer at JMMB Group.
Kerry-Ann Stimpson, group chief marketing officer at JMMB Group
She added: “Although this virtual expo and the involvement of our team members is not novel for us, we decided to build on this model because it speaks to the core of who JMMB is for its clients and team alike. We, therefore, see this initiative as a fulfillment of JMMB’s vision of love, whereby we seek to create an organisational environment in which team members can achieve their full potential, and can extend those dreams beyond the organisation.”
Tiffany Blake, a teller at JMMB Bank’s Haughton Terrace branch, and the creative genius behind Art by Hephzibah, lauded the virtual expo for the exposure she received.
“It was a great opportunity that has already begun to payoff; within less than 24 hours, I got two prospective clients, who are interested in purchasing customised art pieces.”
Marsha-Gaye Hibbert, senior operations officer at JMMB Group and owner of MGH Creates, echoed similar sentiments, while underscoring the value that the expo can deliver to other small businesses, “an event like this is timely, as it can provide a much needed boost for small businesses, like mine, especially at this time, when many small business operators look forward to the Christmas season to increase their sales.”
Of course, Hibbert, like her team member, Blake, did not leave the virtual expo empty-handed, as she, within a day of the expo, has begun to facilitate orders for her Christmas ornaments and other customised items.
She also commended JMMB’s efforts in hosting the expo, sharing, “I am very happy to be a part of an organisation that stands for team members’ greatness, embraces entrepreneurship and encourages us to pursue our passions.”
Among the JMMB team members, who shared their entrepreneurial ventures during the recent virtual small business expo, are: Althea Walters with My Goal Tracker, a self-help planner; Tanniece Coote of The Girl in You, a beauty supplies retailer and manufacturer; Marsha-Gaye Hibbert of MGH Creates, a customized ornaments and specialty items supplier; Allycia Bennett of Leecha Crochet, providing crochet swimsuits and garments; Simone Dunbar of Framed by Simi, affordable eye frames; Tiffany Blake of Art by Hephzibah, customized portrait paintings; Gavin Walters of Sir Walters Photography; Claudine Campbell-Bryan of Scentre Yourself, an all-natural product line including candles and body products; Jason Jackson of Made by Jque, male accessories and styling services; and Kerri-Ann Ferguson of Smarty Pants, a children’s learning tool.
Marketing executive, Stimpson, revealed, “As a result of the positive feedback received since the first staging of the virtual expo, in July, we decided to extend the opportunity to both our clients and team, as a signal of our commitment to fueling the entrepreneurial spirit in Jamaica.” As such, select small business clients, including companies in distribution, communication, information technology, fashion, skincare, health and manufacturing, joined in another virtual small business expo during a recent Goal Getter Live episode.
The staging of the virtual business expos is timely, as November is celebrated as Entrepreneurial Month.
